Chapter Fifty-One Jack and Delima’s House
Chapter Fifty-One
Jack and Delima’s House
Andrzej was already in his van and on the way to Jack and Delima’s; Ross and Evie would get there around the same time. They’d decided Liv and Rab would stay at Freya’s in case there was any news.
Before Evie left, Liv mumbled to her, “Be careful, won’t you.” Evie caught her sister’s eye for a moment. She had never heard Liv say anything kind to her like that. She nodded: “I promise.”
They drove as fast as possible to Hoxa and parked up outside Jack and Delima’s house, noticing the lights were blazing downstairs. Andrzej pulled up behind their car, and the three of them let themselves in and went through to the kitchen, where Amelia was sitting in front of a roaring fire.
She had a tearful Hari in her lap and Ola was in her playpen. The little girl looked as though she had cried herself to sleep and was hiccupping plaintively, while clutching one of Maureen’s homemade blankets.
“Well, look who it is,” Amelia drawled. “I suppose you expect me to come with you quietly and not make a fuss.”
Evie said firmly, “I think that would be best, Amelia.”
“But I happen to be very comfortable here and I have no intention of going anywhere. But where are my manners, do sit down.”
The three of them stayed standing, wondering who would make the first move. Eventually, Evie broke the silence. “Why did you come after me now? Why wait so long to find out about your past?”
Amelia replied, “It was really all your fault, Evie. Your ego got the better of you. I saw a nauseating article all about your success and your fabulous life in Orkney. That’s how I was able to finally track you down.
When it mentioned your mother’s name was Cara, I just knew it was the same person my stupid father was always going on about.
And there you were. Living a perfect life with your happy family and friends. ”
Evie shook her head in disbelief. Amelia had twisted reality into a warped fantasy. She had no idea of the kind of life Evie had led.
Amelia laughed scornfully at her, “Your senile old mother helped. I was able to track her down and she told me all sorts of things about you. Of course, it just confirmed what I already knew. And I fooled you and that ridiculous bunch of freaks you call your friends. You do realise that it wasn’t very hard to make them think the worst of you and the best of me. ”
Amelia frowned and went on, “Although it wasn’t easy having to hear Kate’s boring plans to go back to university and to try and look interested in whatever drivel Freya was yapping on about.
Posting those fake comments online about Freya helped though; I’ve never seen someone so upset.
I knew she would even start questioning her beloved Evie when she felt so vulnerable and low. ”
She gave Ross what she thought was a sultry look. “Although the sex with you wasn’t all that bad. A bit vanilla, but I could have worked on that.”
Ross looked at her in disgust as she turned to Andrzej. “Oh, and listening to you droning on and on about Orkney history. I thought I was going to scream. I never want to hear another word about this ghastly place.”
“Jesus Christ, Amelia,” said Ross. “You’ve caused such a lot of pain and for what?”
Amelia looked surprised and glowered at Evie. “Why don’t you ask her? She knows.”
“What are you talking about?” Evie shouted, enraged. “I didn’t even know you existed. I only found out about you when you got in touch with me. I wish I’d never replied to your email.”
Amelia was becoming more and more agitated: “My father talked about your mother all the time. If he hadn’t got sick, I know he would have come back here to find her. He would have met you too, his perfect granddaughter and he would have forgotten all about me.”
Evie said witheringly, “I never knew your father and he was never even talked about when I was growing up. You have built a fantasy in your head and blamed my mother and me for all your mistakes and troubles. It’s ridiculous. You are completely delusional.”
Ross and Andrzej shared a look. Evie was making Amelia angry and she still had a hold of baby Hari. There was no telling what she might do.
“That’s enough, Evie,” said Ross. “Come on now, Amelia. Give me little Hari so I can stop him crying. Ola needs a cuddle too.” He smiled at her in a way he hoped was reassuring, “Then we can all sit down calmly and have a cup of tea and talk this through. It’s way past their bedtime. What do you say?”
Amelia hesitated and looked as though she was thinking about giving up and doing what Ross had said, until she saw Andrzej take out his phone.
“Who are you calling?” Amelia said sharply.
In fact, Andrzej was checking to see if he had a message from Maureen about Freya, and was about to text her to call the police, now they knew where Amelia was, but before he could press send, Amelia stood up with baby Hari in her arms.
“Don’t come near me. Throw me your keys, Andrzej. I need to get away. I am going to take this brat and if you follow me in the car, I will throw him out. Believe me, at the speed I will be going, he won’t survive.”
The three of them were appalled and Evie pleaded, “Amelia, please don’t hurt Hari. We’ll let you go. Just hand him over.”
“I haven’t called the police,” Andrzej said, desperately.
“Look, check my phone, there are no calls. Amelia, like Evie says, we will let you go, but you can’t take him.
Everything will be OK. You can have my keys and take the van and disappear.
” He put his keys on the floor and kicked them across to where Amelia was standing.
“Why should I believe you?” sneered Amelia. “I’m not stupid. The second you have Hari back, you’ll come after me.”
The child began to wail, “Be quiet, you little bastard,” hissed Amelia, her face twisted and furious. She held Hari in front of her. “Shut up!” she shouted loudly into his face. Hari was terrified and started roaring at the top of his lungs.
Evie was in despair at seeing him so upset. This woman was dangerous and unstable. She could not be allowed to take Hari.
Amelia crouched down in order to pick up the keys, holding Hari awkwardly with one arm. The baby tried to escape from her grasp and Ross made a split-second decision to lunge at Amelia, taking her by surprise. He managed to pull Hari out of her grasp, thrusting him towards Evie and safety.
Amelia kicked out at Ross, knocking him off balance, and he fell to the ground. In the melee, she grabbed the keys from the floor and raced out of the room.
“After her!” shouted Andrzej, and Ross scrambled up from the floor. All three of them raced out and into the night air. Amelia was ahead but not by much. Andrzej had left the door open, she ran into the van, fumbled with the keys and turned on the engine.
“She’s getting away,” panted Evie, clutching Hari to her. But she hadn’t reckoned on Ross, who sprinted to catch up with the van, almost managing to grab the door handle. To Evie’s horror, Amelia swerved viciously, crashing into Ross and sending him flying through the air.